Tuesday, October 22, 2013

A 100-Word Mission Statement



This week I worked on the mission statement for MamaBaby Haiti.  Inter-American Foundation limits the statement to 100 words.  My statement is exactly 100 words.  I had to eliminate things such as the definition of matwon (traditional Haitian birth attendants) and to use a slash between maternal and child.  Do you feel sacrifices such as these are acceptable?  If not, what would you eliminate instead?
Below my mission statement is the introduction to the IAF CFP.  Do you think that I have created a mission statement that shows the shared interest of these two organizations?  If not, what connection opportunities have I neglected?
I appreciate your feedback.  I hope we are successful at securing this grant.
MamaBaby Haiti Clinic (MBH) is improving maternal/child health outcomes in the Morne Rouge area by equipping Haitians to provide excellent antenatal care based on the midwifery model.  In 18 months of operation we have set up a culturally competent, holistic birth center that is providing a clean, safe, and compassionate environment for birth and establishing best practices in cooperation with matwons. In 2012 we conducted 5,252 clinic visits and attended 256 births.  Clients learn about clean water, hygiene practices, domestic abuse, sexually-transmitted infections, and available birth control.  They return to underserved rural areas better equipped to make health-related decisions.

IAF’s Introduction
The Inter-American Foundation (IAF) invites proposals for its grant program. The IAF funds the self-help efforts of grassroots groups in Latin America and the Caribbean to improve living conditions of the disadvantaged and the excluded, enhance their capacity for decision-making and self-governance, and develop partnerships with the public sector, business and civil society. The IAF does not identify problems or suggest projects; instead it responds to initiatives presented. Projects are selected for funding on their merits rather than by sector (http://www.iaf.gov/index.aspx?page=96).

3 comments:

  1. First of all, WOW, this clinic sounds amazing.

    From the context, I would have guessed that "matwons" meant midwives. I don't think you lose anything by not defining it in the mission statement, as you'll surely define it later in the proposal, right?

    My impression from reading your mission statement is that people don't come to MamaBaby Haiti, but that the organization sends people to other existing clinics to teach the midwives, birth attendants, and so on about best practices, but that some people do come from rural areas to learn. Is that correct?

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  2. I agree with Su--excellent work here, Julie.

    From a technical standpoint, you have the core elements, including introducing MBH and what it does. Soon, you'll want to make sure you point out what the goal of the project at hand is, how the funder can aid in accomplishing that, and how it is necessary to support the organization now. Might indicate that there is a lot of ongoing work already, somehow, even beyond the 18 months; or identify long-term goals.

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  3. You are definitely weaving it all together. I noticed the terms you repeated from IAF's statement. I know there isn't room now, but I'm hoping you'll use more of their own words from their mission statement in setting up your case/argument. I think it will help to convey the urgency Dr Rice mentions. I'm sure you've got some of that already in your introduction and history of the clinic.

    Really good, on point, hooks the reader into wanting to read more. Great job!

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